Asparagine biosynthesis by soybean sprouts grown under the dark conditions has been demonstrated. The amount of free asparagine synthesized in ten day-old soybean sprouts increases to 22.7% on the dry weight base. The effects of nitrogen compounds such as $NH_4Cl,;(NH_4)_2SO_4$ and urea on asparagine synthesis during the sprouting were examined and the results showed that urea was more effective than other two compounds. Glutamine-dependent asparagine synthetase was partially purified (8.6 folds) through ammonium sulfate fractionation, followed by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration. The enzyme was very labile and required protection by thiol groups or high level of glycerol. The mixture of ATP and $Mg^{++}$ ion also stabilized the enzyme activity. The enzyme utilized glutamine more effectively than ${NH_4}^+$ as an amide donor for the formation of asparagine. The enzyme required L-aspartate (Km=3.1 mM), L-glutamine, ATP and $Mg^{++}$. It showed pH optimum of 7.5 and catalyzed the formation of ${eta}-aspartyl$ hydroxamate in the presence of L-aspartate, ATP, $Mg^{++}$ and $NH_2OH$ in the reaction mixture.